Synthetic resin container

ABSTRACT

A container made of thermoplastic synthetic resin having a central axis extending longitudinally, and having a body, wherein said body has a left and a right symmetrically relating to the central axis, each of the left and right is formed with a distortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in the container, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with a grip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portion of the left and the right, has an area an area smaller than an area of the distortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of the distortion-absorbing portion.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a blow-molded bottle-shapedcontainer made of thermoplastic synthetic resin, and more particularly,a bottle having a grip portion.

[0002] It is known that a blow-molded bottle made of thermoplasticsynthetic resin has a handle for gripping the bottle on a side of a bodythereof. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,937 discloses a blow-molded bottle having abody wherein said body has a left a right and a rear, said body has acentral axis, each of left and right is formed with a grip for receivinga person's thumb and fingers at a position behind the central axis andnear the rear.

[0003] If such blow-molded bottle has a large volume (for example, 2liter of content), it is necessary to prevent a wall of the body fromdeforming due to a pressure reduction in the bottle after filling aliquid content. Thus, it is necessary to provide a distortion-absorbingportion in the wall, and to provide reinforcing ribs in thedistortion-absorbing portion. A bottle is grasped by a person's handfrom the rear thereof. Thus, it is necessary to arrange a grip portionnear the rear. Therefore, the bottle is grasped at a position near therear in the grip portion. In addition, a palm of the hand is positionedat a rear edge of the grip portion, so that it tends to grasp the bottleby only the fingers. If the bottle has a large volume and is heavy, itmay occur to drop the bottle accidentally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a container made of thermoplasticsynthetic resin having a central axis extending longitudinally, andhaving a body, wherein said body has a left and a right symmetricallyrelating to the central axis, each of the left and right is formed witha distortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in thecontainer, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with agrip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portionof the left and the right, has an area smaller than an area of thedistortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of thedistortion-absorbing portion.

[0005] Preferably, the grip portion has the area which is 25% or less ofthe area of the distortion-absorbing portion. Still preferably, Each ofthe grip portions may be formed with a plurality of reinforcing ribsextended longitudinally.

[0006] Since the present invention has the above describedconstructions, even if the bottle is heavy and has a large volume ofcontent, such bottle can be surely and safely grasped by the person'sthumb, fingers and palm. In addition, according to the presentinvention, the distortion due to the pressure reduction can beeffectively absorbed.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front view of the bottle according to one embodimentof the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the bottle illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a left side view of the bottle illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle cut along A-A inFIG. 3, and illustrates a thickness of the bottle exaggeratively.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention An illustrated bottle is made of polyethylene terephthalate,and has 2 liter of volume. Note that the present invention is notlimited to a bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate, and includes abottle made of a synthetic resin.

[0012] The illustrated bottle 1 has a cylindrical shape having anelliptical cross-sectional shape. However, the polygonal cross-sectionalshape and the elongated polygonal cross-sectional shape may be includedin the present invention.

[0013] The bottle 1 comprises a neck 2 having a short cylindrical shape,an upper shoulder 3 extended from the neck 2 downwardly, a middleshoulder 4 extended from the upper shoulder 3 downwardly, areduced-diameter portion 5, a body 6, and a bottom 7 arranged at a lowerend of the body 6. The upper shoulder 3 has a diameter which isincreased downwardly. The bottom 7 is formed by a known art.

[0014] The bottle 1 has a central axis O-O which extends vertically orlongitudinally. The body 6 has a front 18 (illustrated in FIG. 1), arear 19 (illustrated in FIG. 2), a left 8 and a right 9. The left 8 andthe right 9 are arranged symmetrically relating to the axis O-O. Theleft side 8 is formed with a concaved distortion-absorbing portion 10,and the right side 9 is formed with a concaved distortion-absorbingportion 11. If the bottle 1 is filled with a heated content (liquidetc.) and sealed, the body 6 is distorted due to a change of an internalpressure. Each of the portions 10 and 11 absorbs such distortion so asto decrease the deformation.

[0015] Each of the distortion-absorbing portions 10 and 11 has centralportions 12, 13 which corresponds to the axis O-O. Each of the centralportions 12, 13 is formed with a grip portion 14, 15. In other words,each of the grip portions 14, 15 is substantially arranged at a centerof each of the distortion-absorbing portions 10, 11. Each of the gripportions 14, 15 has an area smaller than that of each of thedistortion-absorbing portions 10, 11. Each of the grip portions 14, 15is concaved larger than each of the distortion-absorbing portions 10,11.

[0016] Preferably, each of the grip portions 14, 15 has an area that is25% or less of an area of each of the distortion-absorbing portions 10,11, so as to easily grip the bottle. In the illustrated embodiment, eachof the grip portions 14, 15 has the area that is 20% of the area of eachof the distortion-absorbing portions 10, 11.

[0017] Each of the grip portions 14, 15 has a concaved depth “DB” whichis larger than a concaved depth “DA” of each of the distortion-absorbingportions 10, 11.

[0018] Each of the grip portions 14, 15 is formed with protruded ribs16, 17 extended longitudinally. Each of the ribs 16, 17 prevents fromslipping when the bottle is gripped, and increases strength againstdistortion-deformation.

[0019] Preferably, the rear 19 has a width “W” (see FIG. 4) which is 90mm or less. If the width is more than 90 mm, it is difficult to graspthe bottle.

[0020] Each of the front 18 and rear 19 is formed with recessed strips20, 21. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the front 18 and rear 19is formed with five recessed strips 20, 21 which are arranged inparallel one another. Each of the recessed strips 20, 21 is areinforcing rib, and prevents from distorting the front 18 and rear 19.The reinforcing rib may be a protruded strip. In view of an applicationof a label to the front or the rear, a recessed strip is preferable.

[0021] The bottom 7 is formed with a concaved portion 22 at a lowerportion of the rear 19. The concaved portion 22 aligns bottles 1 onconveying the bottles.

[0022] Each of the distortion-absorbing portions 10, 11 has a ridge 23,24 at a periphery thereof. Each of the grip portions 14, 15 has a ridge25, 26 at a periphery thereof Each of the ridges 23, 24, 25, 26increases strength against distortion deformation of the entiredistortion-absorbing portion 10, 11.

[0023] In FIG. 4, note that a thickness of the bottle 1 isexaggeratively illustrated. Thus, upon understanding the presentinvention, the thickness of the bottle should be understood to bethinner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container made of thermoplastic synthetic resinhaving a central axis extending longitudinally, and having a body,wherein said body has a left and a right symmetrically relating to thecentral axis, each of the left and right is formed with adistortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in thecontainer, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with agrip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portionof the left and the right, has an area smaller than an area of thedistortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of thedistortion-absorbing portion.
 2. The container according to the claim 1,wherein the grip portion has the area which is 25% or less of the areaof the distortion-absorbing portion.
 3. The container according to theclaim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each of the grip portions is formed with aplurality of reinforcing ribs extended longitudinally.